Many in sex trade in Ohio before age 18

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says the state has developed a national reputation as a crossroads for the sex trade.

DeWine said a report written by Professor Celia Williamson of the University of Toledo provides the state with more insight into who is more likely to get trafficked.

A few years ago, a federal sting in Harrisburg, Pa., found that 77 of 177 females involved in a sex-trafficking operation were from the Toledo area,The Community Press & Recorder in Cincinnati reported.

Researchers spoke with victims primarily in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo. They found more than one-third of the sample said they were trafficked for sex before the age of 18 and some said they were trafficked before age 12.

A majority of female victims said they were recruited by other women who were also involved in the sex trade or who acted like a friend, the report said

The study also identified several similar early indicators considered high-risk factors for Ohio youth being lured into the sex trade including:

-- 63 percent reported they ran away from home at least once.

-- 59 percent reported they had friends who were involved in selling themselves.

-- 47 percent reported being raped more than a year before they were trafficked.

-- 44 percent reported being victims of abuse.

"The number of victims who were runaways before their involvement with sex trafficking is very telling," DeWine said said in a statement.

In Cincinnati, the people who purchased sex most often were drug dealers, followed closely by factory workers, construction workers and truckers, the Press & Recorder said.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today’s UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI when after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.